Drug Traffickers Jailed for Cocaine and Cannabis Dealing During COVID Lockdown

Strategic Insights -

Jamie Montgomery, 44, and Darrin Campbell, 39, were held for their involvement in a crime gang that dealt more than £500,000 of cocaine and cannabis during the COVID lockdown in 2020. The pair was snared after the authorities busted the EncroChat phone network, revealing their illicit activities, including Campbell's complaint about working on the warmest day of the year. They were each jailed for four and a half years at the High Court in Glasgow.

Key Takeaways:

  • Montgomery and Campbell were part of a crime gang that dealt over £500,000 of cocaine and cannabis during the COVID lockdown in 2020.
  • The pair used the EncroChat phone network to communicate with fellow criminals, with Montgomery having the handle "Lets-Go" and Campbell known as "Reliantriver".
  • Messages revealed their illegal activities, including discussions about buying a hydraulic press to bind and package substances, and arranging to sell and supply cocaine and cannabis.
  • On April 1, 2020, Montgomery offered to sell a kilogramme of cocaine for £45,000, and Campbell was used as a main point of contact for "customers".
  • The duo spoke about coping with COVID lockdown measures and exchanged thoughts on which police unit was involved and potential surveillance.
  • Montgomery arranged for the supply of £84,000 of cocaine and a further drug deal was fixed days later.
  • Campbell sent Montgomery photos of cocaine and commented that Montgomery had him "working" on the hottest day of the year.
  • The conservative estimate of the cocaine dealt is around £350,000 in total, and the cannabis dealt is between £27,000 and £60,000 per month.
  • Montgomery was described as someone dealing with "many personal difficulties", and Campbell's lawyer stated that he took "cold feet" and desisted from further involvement after initial involvement.
  • The duo was arrested at Glasgow Airport in August 2023, just before boarding a flight to Amsterdam.

Statistics:

  • Over £500,000 of cocaine and cannabis was dealt by the crime gang during the COVID lockdown in 2020.
  • The conservative estimate of cocaine dealt is around £350,000 in total.
  • The cannabis dealt is between £27,000 and £60,000 per month.
  • The pair was each jailed for four and a half years at the High Court in Glasgow.

Sources:

  • "Two drug traffickers jailed after being caught using encrypted phone network", The Glasgow Times, August 2023.
  • "Pair jailed for £500k cocaine and cannabis deal during COVID lockdown", The Scottish Sun, August 2023.